Edward Bate (Left), of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, preparing for a large Airborne exercise on the 22nd April 1944 just a few weeks before D-Day. He is seen helping his friend “Heinrich”, an Austrian from Vienna to adjust his parachute prior to take-off. Photo taken by Sgt. Mapam 22-4-44 IWM H.37730
Comrades of Rifleman John Beeley VC of 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh on 21 November 1941, working on a cross to be placed over his grave, 22 May 1942. IWM (E 12286)
Corporal Bennett of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, armed with a Sten gun and about to go on a fighting patrol, near Elst, 2 March 1945. Photo I.W.M.
British Official Press Photograph, No. SE.3398 (WPL)
Fort Dufferin falls to “Dagger” Division
It was announced on the 8th March 1945 that as a result of a dramatic surprise thrust by a strong armoured column, British and Indian troops of the 19th Indian “Dagger” Division had fought their way into Mandalay. Twelve days later Fort Dufferin, the last remaining stronghold of the Japanese in the city, fell into British hands. The fort is square, with sides a mile and a quarter long, right in the heart of Mandalay, surrounded by a 30 feet rampart and a moat 70 yards wide.
Photo shows: Private A Brain of Banbury, Oxford, leans on his rifle for a breather after the final assault on fort Dufferin
Sgt Clifford Brown of the Somerset Light Infantry quenches his thirst with other members of his platoon during the attack on Mont Pincon, Normandy 7 August 1944. IWM (B 8787)
This photo taken by, Midgley, A. N. (Sergeant) No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit 7 August 1944.
Picture shows:- Sergeant Camilleri, MM (Military Medal) Royal Malta Artillery
On several occasions between 3 April 1942 and 11 April 1942, a Heavy Anti-Aircraft position was heavily bombed when Sergeant J Camilleri, of the 11th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery, was acting as Gun Position officer. His calmness in giving orders under fire was an inspiration to the men. On the 4 April 1942, at about 6 o'clock in the evening the position was attacked by several JU87s, many bombs falling a few yards away from the Command Post. Despite the fact that all on the position were blinded by dust, he kept the guns firing at the enemy with great effect. In the raid on the evening of the 22 April 1942, an ammunition dump on the position was set on fire by a direct hit. Sergeant Camilleri promptly rallied some gunners, led them to the dump and managed to extinguish the fire. IWM (K 5118)
FIFTH ARMY : ACTION ON THE BRIDGEHEAD ANZIO
Original wartime caption: The crew of this gun have accounted for at least 200 Germans since they landed at Anzio, and when the battalion was surrounded, they brought their cumbersome weapon safely back. They are:- Sgt. Clarke of 96 Carr Lane, Grimsby (at the gun) Pte. Reynold of 921 York Road, Seacroft, Leeds Pte. Beckham, of Alma Road, Burnham, Bucks. IWM (NA 13647)
Picture shows: Lance Bombardier Cuschieri, MM (Military Medal) Royal Malta Artillery.
On 26 February 1942, Lance Bombardier Cuschieri, Coast Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery was in command of an Anti-Aircraft Multiple Machine Gun, when a heavy bombing attack was launched on his position. Although many bombs fell nearby, he continued to fire his gun until it was put out of action by the debris thrown up by a bomb which fell seven yards away. He and his detachment immediately set to work to rescue some men who had been buried under a fallen building. Throughout Lance Bombardier Cuschieri displayed a very high standard of courage and leadership. For his actions on that day he has been awarded the Military Medal. IWM (K 5117)
Dalipsingh, Indian Army, 5-8th Punjab Regiment, 1945 (Art.IWM ART 15788) Artist Korver, J
Lieutenant Simon Fleming, born in County Down in Northern Ireland, commanded the M2 patrol of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) in 1944. The LRDG was a unit of the British Army established in Egypt in 1940 that specialised in intelligence gathering, mechanized reconnaissance and navigation, often operating behind enemy lines. Fleming commanded M2 patrol on an aerial drop behind enemy lines near Montepulciano, south east of Siena in Italy, which was designed to gather intelligence on German troop movements during the Allied advance. He died on 13 June 1944 after his parachute failed to open. He was 23 years old. Art.IWM ART 16556
Sgt. Bert Hardy of the Army Film and Photographic Unit transported three German POWs on the hood of his jeep through Hamont-Achel, Belgium, in September 1944.
Original wartime caption: (Left) Driver Mary Hegarty of Preston, Lancs., was a waitress in peace time. She has been in the ATS twelve months. (Right) Driver Ethel Taylor of Prescott, Lancs, was in a printing and bookbinding business in peace time. She has been in the ATS seventeen months. IWM (H 32510)
Edward Bate (Left), of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, preparing for a large Airborne exercise on the 22nd April 1944 just a few weeks before D-Day. He is seen helping his friend “Heinrich”, an Austrian from Vienna to adjust his parachute prior to take-off. Photo taken by Sgt. Mapam 22-4-44 IWM H.37730
Comrades of Rifleman John Beeley VC of 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh on 21 November 1941, working on a cross to be placed over his grave, 22 May 1942. IWM (E 12286)
Corporal Bennett of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, armed with a Sten gun and about to go on a fighting patrol, near Elst, 2 March 1945. Photo I.W.M.
British Official Press Photograph, No. SE.3398 (WPL)
Fort Dufferin falls to “Dagger” Division
It was announced on the 8th March 1945 that as a result of a dramatic surprise thrust by a strong armoured column, British and Indian troops of the 19th Indian “Dagger” Division had fought their way into Mandalay. Twelve days later Fort Dufferin, the last remaining stronghold of the Japanese in the city, fell into British hands. The fort is square, with sides a mile and a quarter long, right in the heart of Mandalay, surrounded by a 30 feet rampart and a moat 70 yards wide.
Photo shows: Private A Brain of Banbury, Oxford, leans on his rifle for a breather after the final assault on fort Dufferin
Sgt Clifford Brown of the Somerset Light Infantry quenches his thirst with other members of his platoon during the attack on Mont Pincon, Normandy 7 August 1944. IWM (B 8787)
This photo taken by, Midgley, A. N. (Sergeant) No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit 7 August 1944.
Picture shows:- Sergeant Camilleri, MM (Military Medal) Royal Malta Artillery
On several occasions between 3 April 1942 and 11 April 1942, a Heavy Anti-Aircraft position was heavily bombed when Sergeant J Camilleri, of the 11th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery, was acting as Gun Position officer. His calmness in giving orders under fire was an inspiration to the men. On the 4 April 1942, at about 6 o'clock in the evening the position was attacked by several JU87s, many bombs falling a few yards away from the Command Post. Despite the fact that all on the position were blinded by dust, he kept the guns firing at the enemy with great effect. In the raid on the evening of the 22 April 1942, an ammunition dump on the position was set on fire by a direct hit. Sergeant Camilleri promptly rallied some gunners, led them to the dump and managed to extinguish the fire. IWM (K 5118)
FIFTH ARMY : ACTION ON THE BRIDGEHEAD ANZIO
Original wartime caption: The crew of this gun have accounted for at least 200 Germans since they landed at Anzio, and when the battalion was surrounded, they brought their cumbersome weapon safely back. They are:- Sgt. Clarke of 96 Carr Lane, Grimsby (at the gun) Pte. Reynold of 921 York Road, Seacroft, Leeds Pte. Beckham, of Alma Road, Burnham, Bucks. IWM (NA 13647)
Picture shows: Lance Bombardier Cuschieri, MM (Military Medal) Royal Malta Artillery.
On 26 February 1942, Lance Bombardier Cuschieri, Coast Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery was in command of an Anti-Aircraft Multiple Machine Gun, when a heavy bombing attack was launched on his position. Although many bombs fell nearby, he continued to fire his gun until it was put out of action by the debris thrown up by a bomb which fell seven yards away. He and his detachment immediately set to work to rescue some men who had been buried under a fallen building. Throughout Lance Bombardier Cuschieri displayed a very high standard of courage and leadership. For his actions on that day he has been awarded the Military Medal. IWM (K 5117)
Dalipsingh, Indian Army, 5-8th Punjab Regiment, 1945 (Art.IWM ART 15788) Artist Korver, J
Lieutenant Simon Fleming, born in County Down in Northern Ireland, commanded the M2 patrol of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) in 1944. The LRDG was a unit of the British Army established in Egypt in 1940 that specialised in intelligence gathering, mechanized reconnaissance and navigation, often operating behind enemy lines. Fleming commanded M2 patrol on an aerial drop behind enemy lines near Montepulciano, south east of Siena in Italy, which was designed to gather intelligence on German troop movements during the Allied advance. He died on 13 June 1944 after his parachute failed to open. He was 23 years old. Art.IWM ART 16556
Sgt. Bert Hardy of the Army Film and Photographic Unit transported three German POWs on the hood of his jeep through Hamont-Achel, Belgium, in September 1944.
Original wartime caption: (Left) Driver Mary Hegarty of Preston, Lancs., was a waitress in peace time. She has been in the ATS twelve months. (Right) Driver Ethel Taylor of Prescott, Lancs, was in a printing and bookbinding business in peace time. She has been in the ATS seventeen months. IWM (H 32510)
Thank you for Visiting.
Projects Archive
The People’s War History Group.
We at the Society strongly encourage proper crediting of all materials used on our pages. This includes clearly acknowledging both the creators and the original sources.
If you discover any of your work featured without appropriate credit, please contact us immediately — we are committed to resolving such issues promptly and respectfully.
The British Library is preserving this site for the future in the UK Web Archive at www.webarchive.org.uk All site sections are subsequently recorded as part of our nation’s history and heritage at The British Library.
